Alignment device for mounting optical sight

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises a ring alignment bar, a mount extension rod, a bore rod, a lower connector block, a vertical connector rod, an upper connector block, and a bore extension rod. The ring alignment bar is installed in the rings of a telescopic sight mount on a firearm to bring the rings into concentric alignment with each other. The mount extension rod indicates lateral alignment between the rings and barrel of the firearm. The bore rod fits into the muzzle of the firearm. The upper and lower connector blocks, vertical connector rod, and bore extension rod fit together to indicate alignment in a vertical plane between the rings and the bore of the firearm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/374,527, filed 2010 Oct. 12 by the present inventor.

BACKGROUND—PRIOR ART

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appearsrelevant:

U.S. Patents Pat. No. Issue Date Patentee 3,782,832 1974-01-1 Hacskaylo5,813,131 1998-09-29 Were 7,313,885 2008-01-1 Looney

A telescopic sight is commonly mounted to a firearm using a system ofclamps which fit around the cylindrical tube of the telescopic sight.Said clamps are commonly known as “rings.” Said rings sometimes attachdirectly to the frame and/or barrel of the firearm. More commonly, saidrings attach to a mount or mounts, which in turn attach to the frameand/or barrel of the firearm. Said mounts are commonly known as “bases.”Regardless of which particular system is used, it is desirable that therings be aligned with each other, and also with the bore of the firearm.If the rings are not aligned concentrically to each other, unduemechanical stresses can be induced in the telescopic sight, resulting indamage to the exterior and/or internal parts of the sight. Misalignmentof the rings can also prevent their stable placement on the body of thetelescopic sight, causing the sight to shift in the rings, with aresulting shift in the point of impact of the firearm. Furthermore,misalignment of the rings with the bore of the firearm can make properadjustment, commonly known as “sighting in,” of the telescopic sightmore difficult, leading to difficulty in shooting accurately. Stillfurther, it is sometimes the case that holes have been drilled in theframe and/or barrel of the firearm for the purpose of attaching saidbases, and that said holes have not been placed in a line preciselyparallel to the bore of the firearm. As a result, correct alignment ofthe rings, and of the telescopic sight itself, is not possible untilsaid holes have been re-drilled in proper alignment to the bore of thefirearm. Still further, it is sometimes the case that manufacturingdefects in said mounts and/or rings prevent said mounts and/or ringsfrom proper alignment with the bore of the firearm in a vertical axis.Said condition results in the firearm shooting too high or too low,until corrective adjustments can be made to said bases and/or rings.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,832 discloses a cartridge-shaped light source whichfits into the breech of the firearm and projects a beam onto the target,allowing the telescopic sights to be adjusted to coincidence with thebeam. However, this type of device lacks a means of aligning the ringswith each other, or of aligning the rings and exterior body of thetelescopic sight with the bore of the firearm.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,131 discloses a pair of telescopic sight mountaligning bars. Said bars have circular ends which reveal misalignmentbetween the rings by non-parallelism between the inner ends. This typeof device does not reveal misalignment between the rings and the bore ofthe firearm. Nor does it provide a positive mechanical means of bringingthe rings into alignment with each other.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,313,885 discloses a pair of telescopic sight alignmentrods. One of said rods has a projection which slides into acorresponding hole in the other of said rods when the scope rings arecorrectly aligned. Provision is also made for one bore sight device tobe attached to one of said rods. A second bore sight device is attachedto the muzzle of the firearm. Proper alignment of the rings with thebore of the firearm is indicated by alignment of the projected beam(s)of the bore sight devices. This type of device does not provide apositive mechanical means of bringing the rings into alignment with eachother. It only indicates, during a series of trial-and-errorrepositioning adjustments of the rings, when proper alignment has beenachieved. Nor does it provide a simple and convenient means of aligningthe rings with the bore of the firearm that does not depend uponancillary optical bore sighting devices.

Therefore, there exists a need for a simple, mechanical telescopic sightalignment device which positively brings the rings into alignment witheach other, at the same time that they are brought into alignment withthe bore of the firearm on both the horizontal and vertical planes.

ADVANTAGES

The present invention has the following advantages over the prior art:

-   1) No lasers or other battery-powered devices, or optical bore    sighting devices of any kind, are required.-   2) Rings are positively brought into alignment with each other and    held in said alignment during the process of mounting the telescopic    sight. The present invention does not merely indicate when rings    have been brought, by trial and error, into alignment.-   3) The present invention simultaneously aligns rings with each other    and with the firearm's bore, in both horizontal and vertical planes.-   4) Misalignment between holes in the frame and/or barrel of the    firearm and the bore of the firearm is revealed.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment an alignment device for mounting anoptical sight comprises a ring alignment bar, a mount extension rod, abore extension rod, an upper connector block, a vertical connector rod,a lower connector block, and a bore rod.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1A shows a ring alignment bar supplied with two diameters and ahole in each end in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2A shows a mount extension rod in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3A shows the ring alignment bar mounted on a firearm with rings,with mount extension rod attached, so as to reveal alignment in thehorizontal plane between the rings and the bore of the firearm, inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4A shows a bore rod having 2 diameters according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5A shows a lower connector block with attached vertical connectorrod according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6A shows an upper connector block according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7A shows a bore extension rod according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a ring alignment bar, mount extension rod, bore extensionrod, upper connector block, vertical connector rod, lower connectorblock, and bore rod, mounted on a firearm to verify alignment in avertical plane between the rings and the bore of the firearm.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

101 ring alignment bar 103A hole in ring alignment bar 103B hole in ringalignment bar 105 mount extension rod 107 bore rod 108 lower connectorblock 109 vertical connector rod 110 hole in lower connector block 111upper connector block 112 hole for vertical connector rod 113 hole forbore extension rod 114 bore extension rod 115 scope ring 116 scope base117 rifle barrel

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

One embodiment of the alignment device is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6,and 7. In one embodiment, the alignment device is made of hard anodizedaluminum. However, in other embodiments some or all parts of thealignment device could be made from steel, polycarbonate, or any otherrigid material.

FIG. 1A shows a ring alignment bar 101 comprising two diameters, each ofsaid diameters corresponding to the external tube diameter of atelescopic sight. In other embodiments, said ring alignment bar couldhave one diameter, or more than two diameters. In one embodiment, bothends of the ring alignment bar have holes 103A and 103B with axesparallel to the long axis of the ring alignment bar, into which a mountextension rod 105 may fit with a tight slip fit.

FIG. 2A shows said mount extension rod 105. In one embodiment, the mountextension rod has two diameters, one of said diameters held totolerances to produce a tight slip fit with hole(s) 103, and one of saiddiameters held to less precise tolerances. However, in other embodimentsthe entire mount extension rod could be made a single diameter.

FIG. 4A shows a bore rod 107. In one embodiment, the bore rod comprisestwo diameters. One of said diameters fits with a tight slip fit into thebore of a firearm of predetermined caliber. The other of said diametersfits with a tight slip fit into a hole 110 in a lower connector block108. However, in another embodiment the bore rod 107 is permanentlyattached to the lower connector block 108.

FIG. 5A shows a lower connector block 108 with a hole 110 having an axisperpendicular to the face of the lower connector block and a verticalconnector rod 109 attached perpendicular to another face of the lowerconnector block. In another embodiment, said vertical connector rod 109fits into said lower connector block with a tight slip fit.

FIG. 6A shows an upper connector block 111 with a hole 112 perpendicularto one face of said upper connector block and another hole 113perpendicular to another face of said connector block. In anotherembodiment, vertical connector rod 109 is attached permanently to a faceof said upper connector block 111 on an axis perpendicular to said face.

FIG. 7A shows a bore extension rod 114. In one embodiment, said boreextension rod comprises two diameters, one of said diameters fittingwith a tight slip fit into the upper connector block 111, and another ofsaid diameters being held to less precise tolerances. In anotherembodiment, said bore extension rod 114 has a single diameter. Inanother embodiment, said bore extension rod is permanently attached toupper connector block 111.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the ring alignment bar, mount extension rod,bore rod, lower and upper connector blocks with vertical connector rod,and bore extension rod, installed on the firearm to verifysimultaneously three relationships: concentricity between the scoperings; alignment in a horizontal plane between the scope rings and thefirearm's bore (commonly known as “windage”); and alignment in avertical plane between the scope rings and the firearm's bore (commonlyknown as “elevation”).

Operation—FIGS. 3 and 8.

To use the alignment device, identify and utilize the diameter of thering alignment bar which corresponds to the diameter of the scope andrings being mounted to the firearm. Description of Operation will firstcover alignment in a horizontal plane (“windage”) for several popularconfigurations of mounts and rings. Then alignment in a vertical plane(“elevation”) will be covered in a description that does not depend uponthe particular configuration of mounts and rings being used.

For Picatinny-style bases and rings: Mount the base (“rail”) securely tothe firearm. Place the rings loosely on top of the rail. Remove upperhalf of each ring and place the proper end of the ring alignment bar 101into the rings. Tighten the ring halves together, firmly holding thering alignment bar while allowing the ring clamps to remain loose on therail. The end of the ring alignment bar 101 that does not correspond tothe diameter of the scope should extend toward the muzzle of thefirearm. Push the mount extension rod 105 into the appropriate hole 103in the ring alignment bar so that the mount extension rod extends alongand above the barrel of the firearm. Hold the mount extension rodparallel to the barrel while tightening the clamps of each ring. Makefine adjustments to the clamps until all clamps are properly tightenedwith the extension rod remaining parallel to the barrel. Remove theupper ring halves; remove the ring alignment bar; and mount the scopeinto the ring halves. The scope tube will remain undamaged and properlyaligned with the barrel of the firearm.

For Leupold Standard-style bases and rings: using procedure similar tothat described above, use the ring alignment bar 101 to rotate the frontring so that it is approximately parallel to the barrel. Push the mountextension rod into the ring alignment bar and make fine rotationaladjustments until ring is exactly parallel to the barrel. Loosen thefront ring halves slightly so the ring alignment bar can slide back andforth in the ring. Place the rear ring loosely in place on the base withthe rear ring halves slightly loose. Put the ring alignment bar into therear ring and tighten the front and rear rings so that the ringalignment bar is held firmly in the rings. Use the “windage” screws oneither side of the base to align the ring alignment bar and the mountextension rod with the barrel. Tighten the windage screws while keepingthe mount extension rod parallel to the barrel. Remove upper ringhalves, life out the ring alignment bar, and mount the scope in therings. The scope will remain undamaged and parallel to the barrel.

For Leupold Dual-Dovetail-style rings and bases, use procedure similarto that described above to align first the rear ring with the barrel,then the front ring with the barrel. The ring alignment bar can be usedto provide torque to twist the dovetail rings into correct position.Remove the upper ring halves, lift out the ring alignment bar, and mountthe scope in the rings.

For installation of certain scope bases whose positioning on the firearminvolves play on any axis: use procedure similar to that describedabove, with details varying according to the particular design.Generally, rings will be attached loosely to the base, then ringalignment bar will be attached firmly to the rings, then rings will betightened to the base, then base will be tightened to the firearm, withthe mount extension rod indicating correct alignment of the base withthe barrel.

To verify parallelism in a vertical plane (“elevation”) between saidrings and the bore of the firearm: follow procedure(s) above to attachring alignment bar to the rings, and the mount extension rod to the ringalignment bar. Place the caliber-specific end of the bore rod 107 intothe bore of the firearm. Place the opposing end of the bore rod intohole 110 in the lower connector block 108. Connect the lower connectorblock to the upper connector block 111 via the vertical connector rod109. Push the bore indicator rod 114 into the upper connector block.Rotate the bore indicator rod to a vertical position. Adjust the heightof the bore indicator rod by sliding the vertical connector rod up ordown in the upper connector block so that it comes into close proximitywith the mount extension rod. Any vertical misalignment between the boreof the firearm and the rings will be revealed as a visible lack ofparallelism between the proximal edges of the mount extension rod andthe bore indicator rod.

Advantages

From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodimentsof my alignment device for mounting optical sights become evident:

(a) The scope rings can be brought into and held in positive mechanicalalignment during the mounting process, obviating the need for trial anderror adjustments.

(b) The scope rings can be brought into alignment with each other at thesame time that they are brought into alignment with the bore of thefirearm.

(c) The axis of the scope rings can be brought into alignment with thebore of the firearm in both the horizontal (“windage”) and vertical(“elevation”) planes.

(d) The scope rings can be aligned with the bore of the firearm withoutthe use of any battery-powered light sources or other ancillary opticaldevices.

(e) A single ring alignment bar can be used to install different scoperings with a plurality of diameters.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merelyproviding illustrations of some of several embodiments. Thus the scopeof the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and theirlegal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

1. An alignment device for mounting optical sights comprising a ringalignment bar, a mount extension rod, and a bore extension assembly. 2.A ring alignment bar comprising a plurality of diameters, said diameterscorresponding to standard outside diameters of, optical sights, and saidbar comprising a hole of predetermined diameter at one or both ends.3-7. (canceled)
 8. A bore extension assembly comprising a bore rod, alower connector block, an upper connector block, a vertical connectorrod, and a bore extension rod.
 9. The mount extension rod of claim 1, ofpredetermined diameter to enter said hole or holes in said alignmentbar, providing a means for the mount extension rod to extend along andabove the barrel of a firearm, so as to reveal alignment or misalignmentbetween said mounts and the barrel of said firearm.
 10. The bore rod ofclaim 8, of predetermined diameter to fit into the muzzle of a firearm.11. The lower connector block of claim 8, comprising a rectangularblock, and a hole of predetermined diameter into which said bore rod mayfit, said block also comprising a vertical connector rod attached tosaid connector block at an angle perpendicular to the axis of said holein said connector block.
 12. The upper connector block of claim 8,comprising a first hole of predetermined diameter into which may fitsaid vertical connector rod, said upper connector block also comprisinga second hole of predetermined diameter with the axis of said secondbole perpendicular to the axis of said first hole.
 13. The boreextension rod of claim 8, of predetermined diameter, said bore extensionrod fitting into said first or second holes in said upper connectorblock, providing a means for said scope rings to be aligned in avertical plane with said barrel of said firearm by sliding said boreextension rod up or down for comparison with said mount extension rod.